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Reading is an Investment

The Vermont State Treasurer's Office first introduced the Reading is an Investment program to Vermont schools in 2010. The program promotes the teaching of personal finance to elementary school children by providing quality children's books that explore financial subjects to participating schools.The program offers students in kindergarten through 6th grades the opportunity to learn about money and basic financial concepts. Off-the-shelf resources give librarians and teachers tools that they can use to help students make the connection between these stories and their individual lives.

The 2018 - 2019 Reading is an Investment program theme is Wants, Needs, and Everything in Between.

Tell Me About the Program

The program takes a two-prong approach to promoting financial literacy -- class or library instruction and personal reading. Each fall, participating elementary schools receive three new hardback books. Lesson plans and activities are included with the books to teach money concepts. At the same time, students are encouraged to participate in a personal financial literacy reading program. School librarians receive a recommended money reading list that highlights books that focus on basic financial concepts. Students who read at least three books from the list and complete personal reading requirements can send a completed reading log to the Treasurer's office for entry in a statewide drawing for one of twenty $250 accounts in the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan -- Vermont's official 529 college savings plan. Winning students are honored at an annual ceremony in Montpelier.

We have archived all past materials for continued use by both school personnel and parents. See the Lesson Archive under Reading is an Investment on the left.

Please Thank Our Supporters

This program would not be possible without the financial support of the TD Bank Charitable Foundation, the Windham Foundation, and Comcast. These organizations contribute funds to the Financial Literacy Trust Fund and provide the underwriting support for the program. The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation provides all of the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan prizes.